How much wine?

[WashAsDelicates]

I'm hosting a dinner for 7 people aged between 16 and 60. One of the adults will contentedly make one glass last the whole evening. At the other extreme is the one who will drink every drink you give them. Both are generous hosts.

How many bottles of wine should I buy?

The reason irs so many is choice, red white or Prosecco

@midgemadgemodge different social circles have different norms. In some, bringing your own drink and expecting only to have what you bring is considered rude in the same way as bringing your own food to a dinner party would be. Bringing a hostess gift which can be alcohol which the hosts can choose to serve or choose to set aside is different.

I have some friends who operate like you and some who are as above

This

In theory I'd get a mixed case (6 white, 6 red) plus a couple of bottles of fizz for when people arrive. But if I wasn't sure I'd send everyone a message to ask if they preferred red or white, as if everyone only drinks red you might find yourself short. Extra wine in our house is not a hardship.

Plus there might be designated drivers so I'd get some nice soft drinks as well.

Just make a massive salad and put the wine in egg cups like many MNetters would have you believe they do

I’ve not done that since I was a student.

so you go to dinner at someone’s house, they don’t offer you a drink? You just go straight to thr dinner table to be fed? Or sit there making small talk with no drink?

I always take two bottles, but I’ve not been to one where I sit drinking my own, not since student days

12. You don't want to run out.

I was always taught opening bottles people have brought with them as bad manners? They're gifts.

DH and I are reasonably legendary () dinner party hosts and we always get in per person at least half a bottle of fizz, 1.5 bottles for dinner and then port/espresso martini ingredients/other cocktails are available for after dinner.

Also chuckled at 4.5 glasses per bottle...

So do you all just sit down to dinner as soon as you arrive?

I would buy 12 or so, not thinking we would get through them all but if you do half red/half white and it turns out everyone goes for one or the other it's a pain ? Plus we drink wine most weekends so wouldn't mind leftovers

If all 7 drink the same colour then it's one bottle per person.

In family gatherings where meals go on for several hours we do get through that much.

I’d go for 12

I've never been to a dinner party without arrival drinks. And any drinks brought by guests are a gift for the host, usually not opened during the meal.

Op, I'd go for 3x bubbles 7x white and 7x red. Maybe a bottle of gin and some beers as well.

Did someone say two bottles????

Are they serving it in thimbles?

For those of you laughing at my 4.5 glasses in a bottle of wine, 175ml is one glass of wine. And it reflects my experiences on the rare occasions when we open a bottle at home.

We're having fish, herby rather than spicy, which I imagine lends itself more to white than to red. Though I don't really know what sort of wines my friends prefer. I don't notice these things - I'm not a great wine drinker.

I am with you on this, I would have gone with 4 - 6 bottles: maybe 3 red and 3 white depending on the menu.

ps @midgemadgemodge faux fascination at other people's drinking habits is very MN2021. We've moved on.

The glass measures that are quoted on wine bottles are tiny, much smaller than most household wine glasses apart from my mum’s who serves it by the thimble. If it’s the sort of dinner where people might have a glass of fizz (or G&T?) before the meal, wine with the meal and then be staying the evening, I would buy at least a bottle per person in a mix of colours, and they’d probably bring a couple as gifts for the host. I’d say a long night with dinner and friends we’d comfortably average a bottle per person.

8 bottles of wine, a mix, and several bottles of lager/beer to cater to all.

1L gin for you, the host.

1L gin for hair of dog 🤣

2 bottles though is ridiculous.

Are you offering arrival drinks and nibbles. Gin and tonic, cocktails or prosecco, sherry.

For the wine I would buy 5 white, 5 red and 5 rose.

Then what about after dinner drinks?
Coffee with mints

'Though I don't really know what sort of wines my friends prefer'

I like the suggestion upthread of texting people ahead of time to ask if they prefer red or white. Share the menu with them too as that might affect their choice. I would really appreciate this as a guest, and it means you're less likely to end up with loads of bottle leftover

I suspect that’s it then, those glasses are small in comparison to most house hold pours. I’d not give guests that small a glass. The other thing is, you don’t want to run out and everyone sitting with empty glasses.

I'd say most people pouring a 'free pour' at home pour much closer to 250ml (a large glass and only 3 per bottle).

I don't think 175ml glasses are that unusual, are they? We actually usually use 125ml glasses and bring the 175ml ones out for guests

Also you need to allow folks might want a glass or two before dinner.

op, when I have a dinner party I give everyone a drink of their choice when they are settled Ie coats off said hi etc and in the living room . Put some nibbles out like olives or Parmesan crisps. I would say two drinks is the norm. You sit chatting. Then you go through to dinner.

ypu offer everyone water and their choice of wine. I put the bottles on the table to folks can help themselves, but if they don’t. I keep an eye on glasses and top it up before it’s empty. People shouldn’t be sitting with empty glasses. I also keep an eye on the water. Or any soft drinks.

after dinner I offer coffee, port, even a Baileys if someone wants it. But not immediately. Nothing worse than jumping up and clearing as soon as someone has finished. Leave it awhile. Let them drink and chat for ten to 15 mins between courses. Top their drinks up etc.

so that’s why three small glasses of wine doesn’t work. If they drink all,of their glass and it’s empty you need to ideally be in a position to refill it if they wish. Not say sorry you’ve had your three glasses.